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A new Pennsylvania bill would let nonresidents who pay real estate taxes in the state purchase their general hunting license as a resident, and another would make stealing game cameras a specific crime within the game code. (Photo by Blocker Outdoors)

Two Pennsylvania game and fisheries committees are reviewing several new hunting- and fishing-related bills, including one that would change antler point restrictions for senior hunters and another that would move the first day of rifle deer season.

According to goerie.com, on March 6, Sen. Lisa Boscola, a Democrat serving parts of Lehigh and Northampton counties, introduced Senate Bill 391, which would move the first day of rifle deer season to the Monday after Thanksgiving. The first day of the two-week hunting season has been the Saturday after Thanksgiving since 2019.

The Senate Game and Fisheries Committee is reviewing the proposal.

House Bill 741, introduced by Rep. David Maloney, a Republican from Berks County, aims to eliminate the current antler point restrictions for hunters who are at least 65 years old.

The bill would allow senior license holders to harvest an antlered deer with two or more points on one antler or a spike that is at least 3 inches long. The bill gives senior hunters the same regulation as junior hunters. Since 2002, adult hunters in most of Pennsylvania can only take antlered deer that have at least three points on a beam, and in the most western part of Pennsylvania, the buck has to have at least three upward points, not including a brow tine.

Rep. Maloney also introduced House Bill 745, which would permit nonresidents of Pennsylvania who pay real estate taxes in the state to purchase their general hunting license as a resident. A resident adult hunting license costs $20.97, and a nonresident license costs $101.97.

A third bill introduced by Maloney, House Bill 746, would allow sportsmen and women to vote who the governor’s office could appoint to their district to serve on the Game Commission and Fish and Boat Commission. Currently, the board seats are filled by people approved by the senate and appointed by the governor’s office.

Bill 763, created by Rep. Joe Hamm, a Republican representing part of Lycoming County and Sullivan County, clarifies the Fish and Boat Commission’s authority on stream maintenance. It states that the PFBC shall have no authority or jurisdiction related to stream maintenance or clearing activities in the commonwealth. The Department of Environmental Protection is involved in regulating water quality in streams.

Rep. Joe Emrick, a Republican from Northampton County, introduced House Bill 800 legislation, which makes stealing trail cameras and devices used to visually record wildlife a specific crime within the game code. The bill would make stealing someone’s trail camera a first-degree summary offense, and the violator would lose their hunting privileges for one year.

The five bills were sent to the House committee on March 3 for consideration.